It is both funny and sad how fast a Presidential race these days moves. It lives in the moment to such a degree that one day can bring about a complete change in headlines. One day it’s all about Obama, the next it’s all about McCain’s surprise, gamble of a VP pick, Sarah Palin. If I didn’t no better, and paid very little attention to the reality of politics, I might think that McCain suddenly got a burst of momentum, which is exactly what McCain wants you to think.
Unfortunately for John McCain, his move is like watching the prime-time TV show the networks always plug after the Super Bowl. It may be on in the room, and some are paying attention, yet most are still talking about the game. The Media may think people care so much about their headlines but the harsh truth of this, is that most people don’t. Only hardcore lovers of politic like us give a rat’s ass (I’m guessing you must love politics to be reading this).
Most Watched Convention Ever
This year’s DNC was a grand slam, fast-break-slam-dunk, touchdown w/ 2-point conversion extravaganza. The final night, with Obama accepting the nomination to the largest crowd since JFK (many deemed this a major gamble) and he pulled it off. More people watched Obama accept the nomination in the history of Television (nearly double that of John Kerry) and it scored ratings higher than the opening night of the Olympics.
Every night had exciting moments, delivering every major element: Ted Kennedy giving a speech, refusing to sit, despite his terminal brain cancer, Michelle Obama proving she would be a terrific first lady, and with that Ozzie and Harriot moment on stage, it reminded me of the way Kennedy used heartstrings and family to seem personable. Then you had the tension of Hillary’s speech (would she endorse him or destroy him), which delivered an uppercut to McCain’s strategy of using division for votes. A potential backfire for McCain. Then of course Bill Clinton’s eloquent slamming of Bush and McCain, touting the failures of Republican politics, lifting his own image and comparing Obama to himself, as a little known politician with little experience. Not only did he put all fears of division to bed, he earned back the respect of people like me, who were badly strained during the primaries. This came only hours after Hillary stopped the floor count and threw her votes to Obama. It was an exciting moment! Biden too delivered a blue-collar populist speech that was filled with emotional moments. His populist message filled in the missing pieces with national security strength, and a down to Earth quality. You can’t forget of course, John Kerry’s speech, which hit the Rove style politics in the groin and Al Gore’s speech the next night which hit the failed Bush environmental policy in the face.
With all that, people thought Obama couldn’t possibly pull it off. All the pundits didn’t give him a chance and chose instead to focus on the 1 or 2 delegates that said Hillary’s speech proved she was the better candidate. They thought he’d leave the red meat to his subordinates and send a message of hope. They nit-picked every little detail they could find. Republicans said she didn’t praise Obama enough, claiming, he didn’t go into his biography! WHAT?!
Despite this negativity, Obama scored a touchdown at Mile High Stadium, showcasing the best moves since the days of John Elway. He slammed McCain harder than anyone else in the convention, and still delivered the message of hope and renewing the American spirit. The speech was filled with substance, highlighting his planned tax-cuts for the Middle Class and McBush, I mean McCain’s plan to give massive tax breaks to the super wealthy. He hammered the Republicans absolutely abysmal foreign policy score card, their deficient policy on health care and their ho-hum, ignore the problem, stance on Global Warming and the environment.
He showed the clear choice between him and McCain, citing his opponents voting record in Congress going 90% of the time with President George Double-Your-Gas-Prices Bush. He moved the party away from big Government social programs, citing the responsibility of us all, yet ripped into the Republican’s beloved Ownership Society, calling it essentially as: the rich own it, everyone else bares the hardship. He defended civil rights for American citizens despite their skin color, gender, religion, income bracket or sexual orientation. He pushed for Green and Renewable Energies, calling to be off oil in 10 years. He called for us to shoot for the moon, not to lower expectations and dilly dally our time away like the Republicans. An end of the Bush borrowing of money from China to pay for oil in Saudi Arabia so we can drive foreign built cars that destroy the environment and our economy.
Finally, he promoted a message of hope for a strong America, the leader of the world, the economic giant, the great military power and the promoters of Democracy abroad. A vision of Universal Health care, not higher insurance stock dividends, a promoter of education, not loan companies (which has actually contributed heavily to people being dumber under Bush according to test scores) , a promoter of human rights, not torturers. He cited the Republican hate machine and the politics of division as being essentially all the Republicans have to offer. It is the birth of a new era in politics, and the Rove playbook has suddenly become as outdated as the Pet Rock. He even ended the speech with a quote from the Bible.
With Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream†speech given 45 years ago to the day, Obama’s nomination seemed all the more historic. The MLK dream was being realized to some degree. After Obama’s speech, it felt like an even more important history. As if we are witnessing the beginning of something potentially great. The buzz was high and emotion was strong.
Indeed the Obamanator really tore apart the competition. Even Republicans had to give it to him. McCain’s camp was completely speechless.
So they gave Obama a heavy dose of what they know: dirty politics.
Normally there is a truce during the conventions, which makes sense, it is a mutual benefit. Since Karl Rove however, no move is too slimy. They staged deceptive interruptions during and after the campaign and did everything they could to cause division and steal headlines. Monday, he received the endorsement by aging Reggaeton star, and sell out, Daddy Yankee (pandering to Latinos), followed by a spot on the Tonight Show. Tuesday and Wednesday he ran attack ads during the week that had an alleged Hillary supporter voting for McCain, and used old statements from both Biden and Hillary that were critical of Obama during the primaries, a very low blow. This was followed by a gentle and grandfatherly McCain praising Obama as history on the final night, an obvious attempt to make any attack on him seem unjustified. The icing on the cake was his VP pick one day after the convention. Not a single day of truce.
The Palin Problem
The problem for McCain is not just his lousy VP pick, it’s that their moves have been poorly planned. He should have ran those attack ads weeks ago, honoring the truce. This would make him seem a man of his word, and the attack ads would have built momentum against Obama, granted they did do a touch of this. The VP pick the day after was widely publicized, however with such high ratings for the DNC, I can imagine many are fatigued by politics, not paying too much attention in the first place. Plus the Republican attempts to paint Obama’s speech as negative now are null and void, a missed opportunity that Dems are likely grateful for.
As for Palin? I’m not impressed. Take away the fact that she’s a woman (which is what we’re supposed to do) and she’s just a little-known newbie with some buzz from outside the 48 contiguous states. Little is known about her, she already has a scandal under her belt and she’s far more Conservative than John McCain, not to mention she opposes his beliefs on some of the chief issues, like drilling in ANWAR.
This is clearly pandering to the women’s vote. Unfortunately polls show that feminists and women as a whole are not convinced. Conservatives, like this idiot from the Weekly Standard are shocked that NOW would not endorse Palin. LOL. This proves how out of touch they are. Sure many women wanted to see Hillary win (unfortunately because she is a woman) however they are not willing to undercut their own rights to do it, just like African-Americans would not support Allen Keyes for President. Remember when he ran against Obama for Senate? Wasn’t that a laugh. The Republicans thought that two black men would split the vote. It didn’t work and Keyes was trounced. Conservatives didn’t get it then and they don’t get it now. A puppet is a puppet no matter what color or gender it is.
What’s worse for Palin is that Independents don’t like her. She is scoring very low in this department, in some cases, single digits! This undermines McCain’s appeal to the center, forcing him to run to the right, which still doesn’t really like him. Plus her zero experience in national and international politics makes Obama look like a seasoned pro. With McCain’s failing health, she could become the most inexperienced President in over 100 years. Her Son with Down Syndrome is truly heart wrenching, unfortunately for her political life, many women are asking how she can take care of a very demanding child while running for national office. Her husband can’t do it. One, that’s not traditional family values, two, he’s too busy being on the payroll of an oil company to do it.
There is a lot to play with here, and we’ve only just met Mrs. Palin. She could very well end up much like the only other female VP Candidate, Geraldine Ferraro, who was not properly vetted. A shady business deal her husband was involved in made her a real drag on the ticket. Mondale was trounced for a great deal of reasons, yet Ferraro proved disastrous.
The same can be said of Dan Quayle, who was thrust on the international scene and almost immediately burned at the stake. He could not withstand the pressure of a national campaign. With things moving even faster these days than in 1992, and with new allegations breaking daily, Palin could prove to be Dan Quayle part II.
Just look at these headlines from the Huffington Post:
TOP GOP GOVERNOR: I’VE HEARD NO DISCUSSION ABOUT REMOVING MS. PALIN FROM THE TICKET …
‘Fringe’ Alaskan Secessionist Party: Palin Was A Member
Almost Recalled As Mayor2
Directed Fundraising For Indicted Senator’s 527
Troopergate Scandal
Calls Iraq A War For Oil
Admits She Hasn’t ‘Really Focused On Iraq’
Alaska National Guard General: Palin Plays No Role In National Defense
17 Year-Old Daughter Pregnant
This is not the way to kick off your new partner.
GOP Convention thwarted by God?
Now we get to endure another week of politics. We get to hear how great Sarah Palin is, and what a war hero John McCain is for 4, scratch that, 3 days. I think I’ll just watch Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert instead and put a good movie on while the Republicans through the antiquated “tax and spendâ€, “higher taxesâ€, “Liberal Mediaâ€, “cut and run†etc. and so forth, statements around. They should make a drinking game out of the RNC, counting how many times they use the word “Liberalâ€, “taxesâ€, “troops†and other meaningless talking point favorites. Every time they say one, you take a shot. Only problem is, you’d be black-out drunk by the end of the first night.
As much as I wanted to hear jokes about visitors to the twin cities staying out of the airport bathrooms and of staying out of any bathroom Larry Craig is in, a problem, could devastate their planned convention, Gustav. Hurricane Gustav is one of the most potentially destructive storms since the 2005 season. It is coming exactly 3 years since Katrina and the city of New Orleans has been evacuated. The Republicans have put up the decorations, set up the chairs and filled the balloons. They would lose millions of dollars if they delay the convention, however they would lose far more if they are seen partying while New Orleans drowns… again. It was Katrina that really tore Bush a new one, and it is a symbol of Republican failure.
Could God really be against the GOP? I though Jesus voted Republican? Could this be payback for McCain’s aggrandizing during the Democratic Convention?
So far, the Republicans have already suspended the first days events in Minneapolis-St. Paul, and, fortunately, the storm looks like it has missed New Orleans, thankfully it’s been weakening and despite the destruction, it will not be near as gruesome as Katrina. McCain is suggesting he may give his acceptance speech in a disaster area. Can you believe that? That’s the lowest form of pandering there is, taking advantage of human suffering.
I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for New Orleans twice. Once for the people of New Orleans, twice that Americans will not fall for the pathetic manipulation of the Republican Party.
There time is over. They had their chance. Look where we are now. Let’s not give them our vote, let’s give them a stiff kick in the ass, out of the White House, out of Congress.